Traffic-signaling means for vehicles



April 8, 1924. i 1,489,829 F. W. HOTTENROTH TRAFFIC SIGNALING MEANS FOR VEHICLES Original Filed Sept. 2 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April s, 1924. ,489,82 9

F. w. HoTTENRoTH TRAFFIC SIGNALING MEANS FOR VEHICLES original Filed sem. 29 1922 2 sheets-smet l l IIb/ll.

'lll/115% Patented Apr. i924..

FREDERICK W. HOTTENROTH, F PARK HILL, NEW YORK.

TRAFFIC-SIGNALING MEAN S FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed September 29, 1922, Serial No. 591,245. Renewed February 6, 1924.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Ho'r- TENROTH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Park Hill, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic-Signaling Means for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

While adaptable for various purposes and uses where a plurality of signals are to be actuated separately and independently, my present improvements relate more particularly to the type of signaling means set forth in Letters Patent No. 1,403,082, issued to me January th 1922, and are designed to afford apparatus of this character, not only for use on automobiles, motor boats, trolley cars, or other motor driven vehicles generally, in accordance with the various exigencies of travel or road traffic, but also for installation in localities and positions where trado and analogous signals are desirable.

To this end the invention consists primarily and essentially in the combination, with a plurality of rockable indicators, of means for actuating and controlling the same individually and independently through the medium of a single rotatable reciprocative shaft, manually manipulatable, substantially in the manner and for' the purposes hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I exemplify a practical embodiment of the essential features of my present invention, although I do not limit. myself to the identical forni and construction of parts shown, since various modifications may be resorted to in minor details with like result, and without departing from the spirit and intent of said invention. Y

-With this understanding,

Fig. l, represents a front elevation of my improved signaling apparatus, the front of the indicator, container, or shield compartment being omitted to more clearly show the operative parts;

Fig. 2, is a section taken upon the planos of the Zig-zag line 2-2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3, is a top view of the indicators and connective parts, the top of the shield compartment being broken away in part, and in section;

Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic illustration of the voperation of the stop indicator;

Fig. 5, is a diagrammatic illustration of the operation ofthe indicator used to signal traffic deviation to the left;

Fig. 6, is a diagrammatic illustration of the actuation of the indicator used to signal traffic deviation to the right;

Fig. 7, is a detail view of one form of coupling between the reciprocatory rotative shaft sections; V

` Fig. 8, is a sectional detail of the connection between the outer end of the actuating shaft and its cross head with which the indicator link-levers are connected; y

Fig. 9, is a cross section of the outer section of the actuating shaft taken upon plane of line 9 9 Fig. l, but upon a larger scale;

Fig. l0, is a sectional elevation taken upon plane of line 1 0-10 Fig. l;

Fig. 11, shows the indicator link-levers in detail;

Fig. l2, is a detail view of the parts by which` one of the indicators is actuated as viewed from the side thereof opposite to that shown in Fig. l.

The rockable indicators R, L, and S, are pivotallyv and pendently supported on a fixed fulcrum arbor F, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, ofthe drawings, spacing washers f, f, or the equivalent thereof being interposed between them, and the fulcrum arbor F, itself being supported on and between the front plate o, and the rear plate c', of a shield compartment or container C, which is fiXedly mounted and located. This container, or shield compartment C, may be Aof any desired shape, provided Vit affords ample concealment for the said rockable indicators B, L, and S, when retracted, and also for 'the links, etc., by which they are actuated. As shown in the drawings, said shield C, is of circular configuration, and

may afford support for a rear observation mirror M, such as usually employed on automobiles, etc. the shield compartment C, constitutes a` bearing for the support of the indicatorcont-rol section A, of the actuating shaft, the latter, considered in a unitary sense, consisting of said section A, and a manipulative section A, mounted in a bearing bracket B, rigidly affixed to the dash board of an automobile, or other suitable support positioned 'conveniently for manipulative purposes,-i. e., for the control and operation of the actuating shaft, A, A, the opposed ends of which are coupled together, either by an articulative joint a, as in Fig. 7, or by a A tubular extension c2 of section of flexible shafting a, as indicated symbolically in Fig. 1, of the drawings, the object of this articulative or iiexible end to end shaft coupling being to compensate for any possible lack of accurate alignment between the two shaft sections A, A, as in` stalled for use.

The bearing bracket B, is formed with a longitudinal slot Z), the ends of which form stop shoulders Z22, which limit the extent of movement of the handle a2, the shank of which extends through said slot ZJ, and is rigidly secured yto the manipulative shaft section A, as shown more particularly in Fig. l0 of the drawings.

Said longitudinal slot b, in the bearing bracket B, is formed with a lateral off set or recess b", (see particularly Figs. 1 and 10, of the drawings), which admits of the partial rotation of the actuating shaft A, A, on its longitudinal axis, when the shank of the handle a2, is in coincidence therewith, which is when the said shaft A, A', 'is in normal position, with all the indicators R, L and S, retracted and pendent within the containing shield C, as shown in the first' three figures of the drawings.

To the stop indicator S, above the fulcrum arbor F, is pivotally attached a rocker arm s, which in turn is pivotally connected with a rock-lever s', fulcrun'ied on a stud s2, rigidly mounted upon a wall of the container shield C, as will be seen by reference more particularly in Fig. 3, in conjunction with Fig. l, of the drawings. Near the forward end of the indicator-control section A, of the actuating shaft is a laterally projecting trip arm a3, positioned to contact with the inner end of the rock-lever s', when the actuating shaft A, A, is turned on its longitudinal axis. That is to say, when the shank of the handle a2, is turned down into the lateral recess ZX, the partial rotation of the actuating shaft A, A', on its longitudinal axis to the extent, approximately, of onefourth of a rotation, raises the trip arm as, into contact with the lever s', rocking the latter on its fulcrum s2, and causing it to depress the rocker-arm s, and thereby raise the stop indicator S, to a position substantially at right angles to its normal pendent position,-these changes in relative positions of parts being indicated by dotted line-s in Fig. 4f., of the drawings. The indicator S, thus raised at right angles to its normal pendent position, protrudes beyond the container shield C, and signals the intent of the driver to stop the vehicle. When the shank of the handle a, is raised out of the recess b", the trip arm a3 is lowered, allowing the rock-lever s, rocker-arm s, and indicator S, to return to their normal positions. It is to be' noted that the above described operation of the stop indicator S, is effected by a partial turn only of the actuating shaft A,

A, on its longitudinal axis, and while said actuating shaft A, A, is otherwise stationary. When the shank of the handle a2, is out of the slot bx, and in alignment with the lon gitudinal slot o', in the bearing bracket B, the actuating shaft A, A, is reciprocatable within the limits of the slot b, the notch or recess ZX, coinciding with the medial or neutral position in which the indicators R, and L, are pendent and in normal position.

The outer end of the indicator control section A, of the actuating shaft has pivotally mounted upon it a cross head a, formed with bracket arms a5, c6, which carry screw studs a7, as, for engagement with longitudinal slots in the link-levers Z, and r, which are pivotally connected respectively with the indicators L, and R, on opposite sides of the fulcrum arbor F. rlhus the link-lever 7', is pivotally connected to the indicator R, below said fulcrum arbor F, asshown in Figs. l, and 5, while the linlclever Z, is pivotally connected with the indicator L, above said fulcrum arbor F, as shown in Figs. l, and 6, of the drawings, so that the indicator R, which bears a pointer r', to designate intended trafilc to the right of the vehicle, has to be pushed outward to rock it into visual signal position, whereas, the upper portion of the indicator L, which bears a pointer Z, indicative of intent to deviate to the left, has to be pulled inward in order to rock said indicator L, into visual position.

The cross head a, is pivotally mounted on the end of the shaft section A, so as to admit of the partial rotation of the actuating shaft A, A', for the purpose of operating the stop signal S, as hereinbefore set forth. Fig. 8, shows a pivotal mount of this character, although I do notlimit myself thereto.

As before stated. F ig. l, shows the operative parte at rest in their normal positions, by reference to which figure more particularly, it will be seen that under these condi.- tions the slot r2, in. the link-lever 7. extends mainly to the rear of the stud a, whereas, the slot Z2 in the link-lever Z, extends mainly in front of its engaging stud 0.7. Thus, when the actuating shaft A., A', is slid longitudinally to` the left. by means of the handle 0,2. until the shank thereof rests against the end Z2, of the bearing bracket slot b, the stud (LB, will push the link-lever r, and indicator R, outward as illustrated by dotted lines in the diagram. Fig. 5: and conversely. when the actuating shaft A, A', is slid longitudinally to the right by means of the handle fr?, until the shank thereof rests against the opposite end Z1', of the said slot Z), the stud a7, will pull the link-lever Z, and upper part of the indicator L. backward, thereby causing the main portion of the indieator L, to protrude visibly beyond the encasement shield S, as illustrated by dotted jlines in Fig. 6. In both reciprocatory movements of the actuating shaft A, A, the elongated slots r2 and Z2, in the link-levers 7, and Z, admit of, and compensate for, the extent of movement of cross head a4 involved,-i.'e. the slot Z, admits of the advance of the link-leverv, bythe stud a8, without disturbance. of the link-lever Z, and its indicator L, andin like manner the slot 'r2 admits of the retraction of the link-lever Z, and the advance of its indicator L, without disturbing the link-lever 0, and its indicator R.

In order to yieldably hold the indicators R, L, and S, against looseness or play in either position, I form their upper edges, above the fulcrum- F, with notches n, n, for engagement with a spring detent d, as indicated particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings. i

' It will be seen by the foregoing description that by my reciprocatory and rockable actuating shaft A, A', I control three indicators, individually and independently, by simple means of manipulation, a single knob or handle answering the purpose.

I have herein shown and described my improved signalin means as applied and adapted to the ex ibition of indica-tors on one side only of a vehicle, or other location of installation, although it is obvious that my invention would include a like vmanipulation of a duplication of indicators at both ends of a reciprocato-ry and rockable actuating shaft, by a simple modification in the relative arrangement of the elongated slots in the link-levers.

Furthermore, the essential features of my invention are applicable and adaptable to other uses and installations in which a plurality o-f signals, signs, or indicators are to be singly and independently operated and displayed, as for instance for fixed trafc regulating stations, or for any analogous use.

I have herein shown and described my invention as adapted to the independent operation of three indicators. A single indicator, or any plural number of indicators,

may, however, be mounted and manipulated, substantially as herein set forth, by a simple duplication of the parts and appurtenances described and claimedV herein. Thus, for instance, the trip arm a3, may be duplicated on` the opposite side of the control section A, of the actuating shaft, together with the rock lever s', and rocker arm s, suitably mounted, and connected with an equivalent of the indicator S, bearing a suitable pointer or sign; and other reproductions or nullications of operative parts" maybe resorted to in adapting the essential features of my invention to specific requirements, as may be found expedient in practice.

What I claim as my inventionV and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. In signaling means of the character designated, the combination of a pivotally supported indicator, a rocker arm pivotally connected therewith, a rock-lever pivotally connected with `said rocker arm and fulcrumed on a' stationary 'partya reciprocatory rotative actuating shaft formed with a trip arm for engagement with said fixed fulcrum rock-lever, another pivotally supported indicator, and a rock-lever pivotally vconnected directly therewith and with said reciprocatory rotative actuating shaft, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In signaling means ofV the character designated, thecombination of two pivotally supported indicators, `two longitudinally slotted rock-levers each pivotally connecting one indicator independently with a common reciprocatory actuating shaft,` and said actuating shaft, the slots in the said rock -levers admitting of the independent movement of the respective rockleversV when the actuating shaft is moved in opposite directions, all of said indicators being independently actuated by said common reciprocatory Yand rotative actuating shaft, substantially in the manner andV for the purpose set forth. Y

3. In signaling means of the character designated, the combination of a pivotally supported indicator, a rocker arm pivotally connected therewith, a rock-lever pivotally connected with said rocker arm and fulcrumed on a stationary part, a reciprocatory rotative actuating shaft formed with a trip arm for engagement with said fixed i fulcrum roclr-lever, two other pivotally supported indicators and two longitudinally slotted rock-levers, each pivotally connecting one indicator independently with said reciprocative actuating shaft, the slots in the two said slotte-d rock-levers admitting cross head pivotally mounted on the end of one of said shaft sections, and a trip arm carried by said shaft section for engagement with said rock lever, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

5. In signaling ymeans of the character designated, the combinationy of a pivotally supported indicator, a rocker arm pivoti ally connected therewith, :i rook lever pivmeans vfor" operating said shaft manually,

otally eonneeted With said roekeryarm, and substantially inthe manner and for the purfulerumed on a stationary part,` and a repose set forth. o e

eiprooatory and rotative shaft formed With FREDERICK W. HOTTENROTH.,

a trip arm Yfor engagement with said rockk 'Writnessesz y v lever, said rotative shaft being formed yin o MARGARET K. HANSTEIN,

two sections flexibly coupled together, and f GEO. WM. MIATT. 

